News

Super-premium blended Scotch whisky sales in the United States rose a robust 13.0 percent and super-premium single malt sales were up 8.8 percent in 2017, the Distilled Spirits Council said today, as America celebrates International Scotch Day.That translates for producers into more than $600 million in sales for super-premium brands in the $2.2 billion Scotch whisky category in the United States.​

The Distilled Spirits Council today reported at its annual economic briefing record spirits sales and volumes in addition to continued market share gains versus beer in 2017. Supplier sales were up 4 percent, rising $1 billion to a total of $26.2 billion, while volumes rose 2.6 percent to 226 million cases, up 5.8 million cases from the prior year. These results reflect adult consumers’ ongoing taste for higher-end distilled spirits products across most categories.

The Distilled Spirits Council today issued the following statement from Council President & CEO Kraig R. Naasz on congressional passage of a two-year version of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act as included in the comprehensive tax reform package, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

We commend Senator Portman and the Senate Finance Committee for recognizing the excessive tax burden faced by the more than 1,200 operating distilleries nationwide, as well as the important role distilleries of all sizes play in generating jobs, supporting agriculture and boosting tourism.

The Hill, one of Washington, D.C.’s premier publications covering Congress, the Administration and politics, named the Distilled Spirits Council’s Kraig R. Naasz, Mark Gorman and David Culver to its 2017 Association Top Lobbyists List.

Top Distillers Gather at Mount Vernon to Craft Special Anniversary Rye Whiskey. Distillers from across the country today fired up the stills at George Washington’s Distillery to collaborate on a special rye whiskey in honor of the 10th anniversary of the historic distillery’s reconstruction.

The Distilled Spirits Council recently conducted an export promotion initiative in London, United Kingdom September 20 and 21, 2017, for 19 small, medium and large distillers, showcasing American distilled spirits products in one of the most important markets for U.S. distilled spirits.